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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The campaign team of the Action People’s Party (APP) candidate for the Ideato federal constituency, Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to remove all his campaign billboards across the federal constituency by the local government authorities.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, at Ideato North, the Director, Media, Grassroot Development Forum (GDF), Mr. Charles Ikenna, said the campaign organisation of Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu disclosed that all requirements as stipulated by the Imo State Signage and Advertisement (IMSA) for the erection of campaign bill boards had been met and appropriate fees paid.
He further revealed that all the campaign billboards of the APP candidates for the Senate, state House of Assembly for Ideato North and South have been ordered to be removed within seven days or be destroyed.
“We were surprised when the local government authorities ordered that the billboards be removed within seven days or they will destroy them. Our question is why are they marking billboards for destruction? Till date, we are not owing a dime to IMSA who has the sole authority to approve the erection of campaign billboards in the state. We paid a total of N14 million into the TSA provided by IMSA, which they have also verified from the Imo State Internal Revenue of office (IIRS). Even the IMSA is yet to give us the certificate of compliance; their excuse is the Director General is not on seat to sign the certificate”, Ikenna said.
He added: “In 2024, we made the same payment to IMSA and they went ahead to destroy our billboards. They usually come at night with their agents. The Ideato North council chairman, Hon Chinonso Okpalaeke, and his boys go about destroying the billboards in spite of a Federal High Court order sitting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. We have reported to IMSA and they said that the local government has no authority to remove them.”
Also, the Action People’s Party candidate for Ideato North state constituency, Mr Ogugua Mbadiwe, said that nobody is above the law of the land and that they cannot be intimidated by anyone.
The Ideato North state constituency candidate, who is the grandson of Dr Kingsley Ozurumba Mbadiwe, said that they were prevented from erecting their campaign billboards last Tuesday.
“I don’t think anybody is above the law. Last Tuesday, they stopped us, but the youths of the community are here to ensure that we erect our billboards, today, which have all been paid for by our House of Reps member, Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, and we have the receipts and approval from Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency. There is a High Court order restraining agents of the government from destroying our campaign billboards which have been duly paid for, and the law has given us the legal rights to erect our campaign billboards.”
Similarly, the Constituency leader of Action People’s Party, Chimezie Okoro, said that they did not want violence and advised the youths not to harass anyone.
“We don’t need any violence. Campaign billboards are being erected everywhere by the APC across Ideato, and our own cannot be different. This is why we made sure that we obtained the receipts for payment made for the erection of campaign billboards from IMSA, which they have also acknowledged. Ideato North council chairman and his agents are looking for a way to ignite the crisis ahead of the elections. But I restrained the youths not to harass anyone because we don’t want violence. Nevertheless, we are being vigilant. The Council Chairman, Okpalaeke, even arrested Engr Anyaocha Obinna with the men of Imo State Vigilance Service on the allegations that he was an informant. Engr Anyaocha was given the contract to install CCTV on our billboards to help us identify those destroying our campaign billboards, especially at night. We have secured his release and he has continued with his work”, he stated.
